Sandwichgate has been officially closed with trainer Bryce Stanaway fined $2000 for withdrawing three horses from races at Pakenham after an argument over a lack of food for trainers at the meeting.
Stanaway clashed with Pakenham chief executive Michael Hodge after the sandwiches in the owners and trainers lounge ran out.
The trainer alleged that when he approached Hodge about the lack of food he was told to take his horses home.
The verbal stoush prompted #sandwichgate on Twitter and earlier this week the pair told their sides of the story on Melbourne Radio RSN.
On Friday, Racing Victoria stewards determined Stanaway was out of line.
The trainer pleaded guilty to a charge of prejudicial conduct while stewards also told Hodge they considered his comments to Stanaway inappropriate.
The Stanaway-trained Crafty Cruiser is the topweight in Saturday’s Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) at Flemington.
He carried 57kg after Boris Thornton’s three kilogram claim when he won the fifth heat of the series on June 27.
Stanaway has retained Thornton despite the apprentice being unable to use his claim in the Listed race with Crafty Cruiser to carry 60kg.
